MEDIA GALLERY Last 7 Days

American Canadian Tour officials have announced the hiring of several new officials across the Série ACT Castrol, Thunder Road, and the American Canadian Tour for the 2013 season.

The overhaul is headlined by the hiring of former Kawartha Speedway (ON) manager Derek Lynch as the Chief Steward of the Série ACT Castrol.Lynch started racing with ACT at just 17 years old in the late 1980s, and had won the Oxford 250 before heading to the NASCAR Busch North Series.His career eventually led him to Charlotte, NC, where he worked in fabrication for Darrell Waltrip racing.In 2000, he married Cait Curley, daughter of long-time Thunder Road promoter Tom Curley, and took over management at Kawartha Speedway.He left Kawartha at the end of last season.

“I think the Castrol series is much like Kawartha.These teams are professional operations, and it’s going to be fun to work with guys doing this at such a high level,” said Lynch.“There are a lot of guys leading the charge that I’ve had the pleasure of racing with over the last few years, but what really stands out for me is the young talent on this tour.There is a great veteran presence, but there is also a talented group of young guys starting to make a name for themselves.I think that’s critical.I can’t wait to get started,” he finished.

Lynch will also be joined by fellow Ontarians Tom Kenyon and Dave Brown.Kenyon, a long-time chassis builder, will serve as an official on the Série ACT Castrol, while Brown will become the Chief Tech Inspector after six years as the Head Tech Inspector at Kawartha Speedway.

On the ACT US side, John Hulburd has joined the staff for the 2013 season.Hulburd got his start at Catamount Stadium flagging and eventually race directed for the NASCAR Busch North Series.He has continued to flag for ACT part-time over the years, and will also be doing some race directing in 2013.Former Oxford Plains Speedway official Randy Varney will also be joining the full-time staff, after assisting ACT part-time for a number of years.

At Thunder Road, Director of Competition Dean Gallison has bolstered the tech staff with the appointment of former Late Model and Tiger Champion Chuck Beede, who will take over as Steward and Chief Technical Inspector of the famous “Flying Tiger” division.Beede is a well-known Tiger car builder, and the Beede family has been competing at Thunder Road for over three decades.Chuck’s brother Danny served as the Chief Tech Inspector for the ACT ProStock series.

Gallison also appointed former Street Stock Champion Crew Chief Jamie MacAskill to join long-time official Sonny Barney and assist with the tech inspection for the Allen Lumber Street Stocks.In addition, rejoining the Thunder Road staff will be Barre’s own Jamie Parker, who will take on control and inspection of tires for various divisions, along with former flagger Mike Renaud who will return in 2013.

Thunder Road Promoter and ACT President Tom Curley felt the changes were necessary, and has high hopes for the upcoming season.

“The time has come to bring in the best quality people to succeed over our foreseeable future,” said Curley.“The addition of the Castrol officials and Dean’s (Gallison) appointees will certainly send the message to competitors that we are bringing in knowledgeable people to assist them in their racing and competitive needs,” he finished.

The 2013 season will kick off with the ACT season opening event at Lee Speedway on April 13/14.